Today we began reading through the book of Daniel. Daniel is a book loved by many Christians in its mix of narrative and famous stories and prophetic visions of the future. Daniel is unique in this sense in that it mixes both of these elements in its writing but in such a way to tell a great purpose and message with both story and vision connected together. Daniel, just like Ezekiel, is a book written to the people of God in exile and those first generations returning from captivity. The world that the exile people of God left was very different from the world that they returned to. A world power had come and gone and the political landscape was much different and in the decades and centuries to come the political and geographical landscape was about to change with the declaration of Cyrus down through Alexander the Great into the beginning stages of the Roman Empire. God needed to assure His chosen people that no matter the world power or circumstance around them He was in complete control over all the events. God being in complete control demanded then that His people live a Godly life in the ungodly world around them and live in such a way in Godliness that it resulted in the world having a reaction. This is how the different stories of Daniel fit then together with the visions from Daniel. God is in complete control over the world and His people and He demanded that His people live Godly lives in the world (think the fire furnace and lion’s den stories as examples of this). Here is how the book breaks down.1-Daniel 1:1-2:4 (This section of the book is written in Hebrew). This section of the book shows that God is in complete control of the outcome of His chosen people and will lead His people in such a way that He shows them He is in control.2-Daniel 2:5-7:28 (This section is written in Aramaic, which is the language at the time of the world). This section of Daniel shows how a Godly people live in an ungodly world and yet even in the ungodly world, God still has complete control and has determined the outcome of all circumstances. 3-Daniel 8:1-12:13 (This section is again written in Hebrew). This section shows that once again God has complete control over His people and will control the outcome of His chosen people in the coming future.

Well....I jumped ahead to Daniel to follow along better. I will go back to my section in 1 Kings later....not that I had to explain myself, I can now be on the same page with the discussion alot better.
The part I picked out is that Daniel and his friends were set apart from the beginnig...in knowing they were wise men, but not to be compared with the other wise men of the time. I find this facinating in that even though they weren't like the others, they were going to be killed as they were...but God spared them...still keeping His promises and fulfilling His plan.
The furnace was a great reminder in that through all the trials we face day to day...our Lord is right there with us protecting us...loving us enough to come to our rescue when we need Him. WOW!!

Reply

Bruce

8/27/2015 02:23:01 pm

WOW!! is the only way to say it... That was one of my sisters favorite stories in bible. She and talked about it years ago. I am just now getting that what she was saying is, that God can do great and mighty things and all we need to do is just believe and trust in him. Truly amazing that at this point in my life God is making his messages come into focus for me... This is just a great story of the bible.

Reply

Tammy

8/28/2015 12:12:36 am

Amen! Our God can do and will do mighty things though His people for His glory. Keep following His lead. He will guide all our steps.

Reply

Bruce

8/28/2015 08:55:47 am

I'm sure he will guide me, but as for right now; i am just happy in seeing how many wonders he is showing me. Things that i used to take for granted... Can't imagine what it would have been like to see people walking around in a fire and not being burned...

This is quite a story. What really stands out to me in these 1st 3 chapters is that these young people took such a life-threatening, faith-filled stand for what they believed in and in Whom they believed. They were teenagers taken to a strange land, immersed in an unfamiliar language, culture, and far from family and all that was familiar and supportive. Also, far from others that would hold them accountable for choices they would make. What they did here truly showed trust and faith in their God no matter what! It honored God and was also a testament to their commitment to the foundation of faith that was laid before they even arrived in this place or had to face these situations.
A reminder to me as a parent to be mindful and prayful about how we prepare our own children to be in this world and not of it.

Reply

Bruce

8/28/2015 01:38:48 pm

Well said... Just imagine the felling they had when they realized that God was saving them from harm. How that must have been an overwhelming felling of his love for them. To honored by God for their faith and trust in him, even when they were taken, as you said... That would have incredible to witness..

Reply

Tracey

8/28/2015 03:16:11 pm

Yes, all our lives truly are in God's hands. There is so much happening in the spiritual world around us that we are not always aware of because we are not usually "tuned in" enough. Sometimes we get to see the power of God's work and love right away, as those witnessing this event did. Sometimes we don't see it until we reflect back on things or God reveals it in His timing. Either way, it is cause for grateful praise and thankfulness.
The other night at Ladies Bible study some of us shared about reminders of God's love in our life journey. I told of how I now see how God's hand was on my life as an unsupervised teenager from a dysfunctional home. How He protected me and wooed me to Himself through His love, His Word, and His love shown to me through others. God's love is overwhelming and can be a powerful witness.

Reply

Bruce

8/28/2015 08:07:13 pm

During the past year, I have had a number of conversations with friends about how God and his word. Many comments that they told me, I have passed on to others. Especially when my sister was dying and upon her death. That truly was all the hand of God comforting me and using me through their words to help comfort my family. I am sure that was his plan as a way to show me that she is Ok and a citizen of heaven. I find myself looking forward to those conversations and even this blog as a means of coming closer to him.

Reply

Tammy

8/29/2015 10:34:40 am

I look back on my life and know there are times I strayed so far from God and because of the choices I made....I really shouldn't still be alive. It is only by His grace and mercy I am here and I am agreeing in that His timing for everything is always perfect. He protected me all those years ago just like he did Daniel and how he does for us today. 😊

Reply

Bruce

8/29/2015 02:55:26 pm

I have been thinking about some of struggles I have had in the past and that instead of turning from God that I should have turned toward him as my wife told I should. Hopefully the lessons in Daniel of trusting in him will help me in my future struggles. I also hope that I will be able to share some of the lessons I am learning to help others in my life.

Reply

Tammy

8/29/2015 10:45:01 pm

Amen! Our life is one big testimony and I believe it all is beneficial to others. All of us go through different things and make us able to relate to someone else. Knowing where God has brought me from and where I am now.....wow....I just feel our testimony can be powerful and can be used to show others how wonderful our God really is. It's all part of learning and I appreciate how each day is new and our God gives us a fresh start every day!

Reply

Bruce

8/30/2015 04:40:03 am

Your comment of how God brought from where you were to where you now....is exactly what i told my when we left church today... How all the anguish that i was going through is pretty much gone. It's like i have become alive again and i find my smiling more and enjoying this time in my life. All by the power of God......

Reply

Tamy

8/30/2015 10:57:47 am

Wow!! That is awesome and I appreciate your enthusiasm! God is so good as He uses each of us in different ways. I'm so glad you aren't where you were.....I'm glad I'm not there either. Haha. God is always good....all the time!

Reply

Joe

8/30/2015 10:59:15 am

Keep studying the Bible, which is God's love letter to us. As John 3:16 tells us: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:17 tells us: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." He loves us so much that He let His Son Jesus suffer and die on a cross for us...the WORLD! I feel called to witness for Christ and use a near death life experience I had as a platform to do it. Be it Old Testament or New Testament, we need to study it all. As Isiah 55:11 tells us: "so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." I have felt like there was a fire within me to discuss the Bible with others, which sounds like what you are experiencing Bruce. Don't let go of it! As the t-shirt I have says.."God loves you. He always has. He always will." I will strive to spread God's Word to others even if it means that I go into a fiery furnace and don't make it out!

Reply

Bruce

8/30/2015 02:17:30 pm

Although, I did not face the physical threat of a loins den like Daniel. The place I was in my heart at that time (including working at a stressful job) was my own lions den. But even then God put good people in my life to help get me through it. Including my good friend Joe and of course a loving and Godly wife, as well as family. Over the past year and especially the last several months. I truly believe, he has put even more good people in my life. I know he put them there for me to help others, including my family. I have seen him put the words in my heart and voice, not only to help give me piece, but to hopefully help others as they face their own lions den or fiery furnace.. As pastor Jeff said today in his sermon, I pray that we all keep the faith in our God and that we live a Godly life like Daniel and keep the faith even if or when means our life, as it certainly will someday.

Reply

Bruce

8/30/2015 02:26:54 pm

I just wanted to add a thank you to all of you that are helping me grow closer to God, through this blog and in person....

Reply

Tammy

8/30/2015 08:12:16 pm

We as the body are here to help each other grow and learn together. That's what it's all about. ☺️